Every once in a while, a book comes across your desk and the immediate reaction is this is a must-have and Qantas Aircraft: A Century of Flight is just such a book.

If you’re interested in Qantas's incredible history then this book which charts the amazing history of the world’s oldest continually operating and most experienced airline * is indeed a must.

The 407-page book takes you on an extraordinary journey of discovery back to a time when Qantas would purchase an aircraft from a UK manufacturer and have them sent out in pieces by sea in packing crates to be assembled locally.

The journey starts with Qantas’s first aircraft the tiny two-seat Avro 504K and a BE2e in outback Queensland.

Each of the 60 different types of aircraft that Qantas has operated over the years has a unique story to tell.

This book shares their story- why each aircraft was added to the Qantas fleet, the technology behind it, where it flew, and the contribution it made as the airline steadily grew, soon to fly non-stop from any major city in Australia to any city in the world.

With over 450 historic and current photos** and 28 meticulously crafted original colour illustrations, this 400-plus page book is the most comprehensive visual record of Qantas' fleet ever published from collections around the world, with detailed aircraft specifications and flight history, extensive footnotes, a passenger fleet summary, and a comprehensive index.

The first two chapters of the book cover the early history of Qantas.

From chapter three onwards there is a brief overview of the period followed by the stories of each of the 60 aircraft types of the Qantas fleet.

You will be stunned by the flimsy nature of the aircraft and the atrocious conditions passengers had to bear flying in the outback of Queensland.

The book documents how passenger comforts have dramatically improved aircraft by aircraft over the 100-plus years that Qantas has been flying.

As you read the story of each aircraft, you'll also discover the rich history of Qantas- the many trials and tribulations overcome, as well as the many high points reached in a journey spanning more than 100 years. 

This book is a tribute to all the men and women of Qantas across the generations who made this story possible. 

Author Garry Saunders spent 30 years working for Qantas and four years researching and writing this masterpiece. The creator of the coloured line drawing is Greg Edwards, a retired architect.

The book weighs 1.385 kg is 30 x 21 x 3 cm and costs $125.

To order a copy and download a free preview go to: https://www.qantasaircraft.com/

*Qantas’s claim as the world’s oldest continually operating and most experienced airline was tested and upheld by the UK’s Advertising Standards Association in 2008 based on documents prepared by Geoffrey Thomas and Christine Wells. In those documents was a list of 26 firsts or seconds that Qantas could claim in pioneering operational excellence.

**Some of the photos in the book were colourised by Benoit Vienne and belong to the Geoffrey Thomas collection for which no financial reward was sought.